Stand By Me

Thursday March 12, 2026

Standy by me.  As we read our psalm this morning, a song that came to mine says, “When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me”. In that same song, it says, “When the hosts of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail, thou who never lost a battle, stand by me.    Our psalm this morning is a plea for God’s help in old age.  The psalmist prays, “Don’t discard me in my old age.  As my strength fails, do not abandon me” (Psalm 71:9).  There are several important lessons to be learned from this psalm.  First, no matter what season of life we are in, we need the Lord.  The psalmist makes this request of God, “do not be far from me; my God, hurry to help me” (v.12).  Second, God is faithful.  God is not like man.  In general, when something gets old and is not as useful as it once was, or perhaps a newer model comes along, it gets discarded.  Now that is true for things, but I also see a trend in our culture to do the same with people.  As we get older, we are not able to do what we once did.  Growing in popularity is something called euthanasia.  This is the practice of intentionally ending one’s life to eliminate pain or suffering.  I have seen the definition of “suffering” be expanded over time to include great dissatisfaction with life.  This is sin. It is wrong.  Mankind is not like things, nor like animals.  This psalm teaches us that God is faithful in every season of life, and we are to seek Him in every season.  Third, there is work to be done in every season of life.  While you may not be able to do what you once did, there is still work, great work, to be done.  The psalmist says, “Even while I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, while I proclaim your power to another generation, your strength to all who are to come” (v.18).  Older saints have a great responsibility and great work to do in proclaiming the power of God to those who are coming behind them.  It is necessary and important work.  Finally, there is great hope in the Lord, even in old age.  I recently had a great privilege of speaking about hope from a Christian perspective.  While the context did not allow me to go in great details, it was an open door, nonetheless, and I have been thanking God for it.  People are desperate for hope.  We have learned in Hebrews that Christ is our hope, an anchor for our souls, and Christ has entered through the vail into Heaven ahead of us.  What a Savior!  This morning, the psalm says, “You cause me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, but you will revive me again.  You will bring me up again, even from the depts of the earth” (v.20).  I’m not sure we view death as revival, but we should!  Revival is a time of drawing near and being near the Lord.  There is no greater revival than being absent from the body, to be present with the Lord!  No matter what season of life we are in, let us seek the Lord for revival, and ask the Lord to “stand by me”.